Vehicle direction signal



June 30, 1925. 1,543,759

G. O. FALES VEHICLE DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed Feb. 20, 1923 Patented June30, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE O. FALES, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

VEHICLE DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Application filed February 20, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that GEORGE O. FALES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle DirectionSignals, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to vehicle direction indicators, and has for itsobject to provide a device of this character comprising a horizontallydisposed shaft extending through the cowl of an automobile, and havingits outer end provided with a signalling arm adapted to be moved tovarious positions in a transverse vertical plane for signallingapproaching vehicles as to the contemplated turn of the operator. Alsoto provide spring means for normally maintaining the arm in inoperativeposition and foot controlled means for moving the arm to oppositepositions.

A further object is to form the arm from two sections having registeringgrooves for the reception of conductor wires leading to a chamber at theouter ends of the member in which an electric lamp is disposed, saidchamber having its outer sides closed by transparent members.

With the above and other ob'ects in view the invention resides in thecom ination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing 2-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of aconventional form of automobile, showing the signalling device appliedthereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of theautomobile and the signalling device.

Figure 3 is a rear View of the signalling device.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the signalling arm members.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a cowl of aconventional form of automobile, and 2 a horizontally disposed shaftextending through the cowl. The shaft 2 is rotatably mounted in bearings3 Serial No. 620,128.

are provided with rectangularly shaped apertures 12 for the reception ofthe rectangular shaped portion 9 of the shaft. It will be seen that thesections 11 will beheld in registration with each other, and in closeengagement when the nut 13 is threaded on the outer end of the shaft.Each section 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 14,which grooves register with each other when the sections are broughttogether and form a longitudinally extending aperture for the receptionof conductor wires 15, one of which leads to a contact member 15 and theother is grounded at 15 to the plate 5. The outer ends of the grooves 14terminate in semi-circular shaped recesses 15 for the reception of thesocket 16 of an electric lamp 17, thereby holding the lamp and socketagainst movement. The arm sections 11 are provided with registeringopenings 18, in which the lamp 17 is disposed, and the openings 1.8 areclosed by transparent members 19. By providing the electric lamp 17, itis obvious that the signalling device may be used for night or daysignalling.

The rear end of the shaft 2 is provided with an arm 20, which is adaptedto be moved in the direction of the arrow (1 for moving the signallingarm 10 in various positions during a signalling operation. Secured tothe outer end of the arm 20 is a rod 21, which rod extends downwardly,and has its lower end connected at 23 to the free .end of a foot pedal24, which pedal is piv- 15, closes the circuit and allows the lamp 17 tobe lighted by the battery 26.

From the above it will be seen that a foot operated signalling device isprovided for automobiles, which device is simple in construction and onewherein, when the operator removes his foot from the pedal, spring meanswill return the signalling device to normal inoperative position.

It will also be seen that the signalling arm is formed from a pluralityof sections, and that the sections are held. in registration with eachother by the rectangular shaped portion 9 of the shaft 2, which passesthrough registering rectangular shaped apertures in the sections.

'l he invention having 'een set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. The combination with the cowl of an automobile, of a signallingdevice carried thereov, said signalling device C(JlllPl'lSlllg ahorizontall; disposed shaft extending through an enlarged aperture inthe cowl, plates secured to the opposite sides of the cowl, and inbearings of which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a coiled springsurrounding the shaft and having one of its ends anchored to the shaftand its other end to one of the plates, said coiled spring e tendingthrough the aperture in the cowl, a signalling arm carried by the outerend of shaft, an arm carried by the inner end of the shaft, adepressahle foot lever, and cable. connections between the fool; leverand the arm carried by the inner end of the shaft.

2. The combination with a vehicle direction signal, said signalcomprising a rotatable shaft, spring means for returning said shaft tonormal position after an operation, of a signalling arm carried thereby,said arm comprising registering sections, the outer end of the shaftbeing rectangular shaped, and extending through registering rectangularshaped apertures in the sections of the arm, registering grooves carriedby the inner faces of the arm section, said registering groovesterminating in segmentally shaped recesses for the reception of an electric lamp socket, an electric lamp disposed in registering chambers ofthe arm sections, the outer sides of said chambers of the arm sectionsbeing closed by transparent members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

GEORGE O. FALES.

